Hierarchical Cu-Ni-Pt dendrites: Two-step electrodeposition and highly catalytic performances

Hierarchical Cu-Ni-Pt dendrites were successfully prepared by a two-step electrodeposition route in air at room temperature. Firstly, Cu-Ni dendrites were deposited on the ITO glass at the deposition current of 10 mA for 5 min. Then, hierarchical Cu-Ni-Pt dendrites were obtained from the H2PtCl6 solution, employing the ITO glass with Cu-Ni dendrites as the working electrode. The deposition processes were carried out at 10 mA for 1-5 min. The phase and morphology of the as-prepared products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), (high-resolution) transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM/TEM), and X-rays photoelectron spectrometry (XPS). It was found that the as-deposited hierarchical Cu-Ni-Pt dendrites exhibited highly electrocatalytic activity and superior long-term cycle stability toward methanol oxidation in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution; and excellent catalytic activities for the reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in excess NaBH4 solution.